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Enjoy the very best of LondonMon, 23 Feb 2015 16:10:40 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1The Lords of Lightning Perform atop a South London Car Parkhttp://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/09/the-lords-of-lightning-perform-atop-a-south-london-car-park/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/09/the-lords-of-lightning-perform-atop-a-south-london-car-park/#commentsSun, 02 Sep 2012 12:24:33 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=28913

The Lords of Lightning have touched down in London this weekend. The metal suit-clad duo fling four million volts of raw electricity at each other while standing on two metal podiums!

I saw the mesmerising act last night at a hip bar perched atop Peckham multi-storey car park in South London, which affords eye-popping views of the city’s skyline. Before the sizzling performance began, a girl behind me said: “I don’t want to stand too close. I might get electrocuted!” The crackling sound of the electricity coupled with the smell of burning made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. And I found the sight of the lightning bolts coming out of their hands, heads and swords utterly dazzling.

Presented by the Mayor of London and London 2012 Festival as part of Showtime, you can catch the Lords of Lightning again tonight (2 Sept) at 8pm and 9pm at 10th floor, Peckham multi-storey car park, 95A Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST.

]]>http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/09/the-lords-of-lightning-perform-atop-a-south-london-car-park/feed/0TODAY: Big Busk Final at Westfield Londonhttp://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/09/today-big-busk-final-at-westfield-london/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/09/today-big-busk-final-at-westfield-london/#commentsSat, 01 Sep 2012 10:30:12 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=28904Some of the biggest names in music began their careers as buskers in London: think Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart.

And now, the search is almost over for the capital’s hottest new busking star. Some of the capital’s most talented unknown musicians and singers will be battling it out in the city’s biggest busking competition today at the Westfield London shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush.

More than 1000 young Londoners aged 11 to 25 applied for the GIGS: Big Busk competition (part of the Mayor of London’s summer events programme) and 18 of them will be trying to impress a panel of judges today. Expect to see an eclectic bunch – from rappers to rock bands. The winning act will scoop a much-coveted London Underground busking licence, music equipment, training and support to help them develop their careers.

Next, pop into the Southbank Centre’s shop on Festival Terrace, which is being curated by not-for-profit organisation Design Nation all month. Here you can see new products and showcases from some of Britain’s best design talent.

Your next cultural stop is Tate Modern. Take a look at Tino Sehgal’s Turbine Hall Commission. This live show involves choreographed movements and sounds from participants in the space – you’ll never have the same experience twice! Then check out the brand new Tanks at Tate Modern, hosting an ongoing programme of live art, performance, film and installations during the London 2012 Festival.

Fifty actors, aged 17 to 70, are taking part in the event, including deaf and disabled artists. They will play characters including Hamlet, Puck, Cleopatra and Juliet.

Similar performances will be happening across London until Sunday 2 September. Today’s performances will take place in the Exhibition Road area from 12pm to 4pm. Other locations are secret until the day, so keep an eye on the Mayor of London Presents website or follow @molpresents on Twitter to find out where there’ll be.

If you’re travelling via Kings Cross St Pancras station this summer, chances are you’ll walk past about 10 metres of yellow and black balls that make up Songboard.

Of course, if you just look at it, you’re missing half the fun. The 3,000 balls can all be moved in half-turns to show either their black or yellow sides and when you flick the right ones around, they make a sound. According to Chloe Meineck, one of Songboard’s designers from Central St Martin’s College of the Arts:

Around 300 of the balls are musical; when turned, the ball sets off an individual section of music, it could be a recording of Big Ben or a musical note. Meaning that songs can also be made with a group of friends playing with the songboard.

If you still haven’t donned a Union Flag or red, white and blue face paint, don’t worry, there’s still time to support Team GB. And perhaps you can take inspiration from these amazing hair scultpures and get creative with your follicles?

If you find a giant javelin piercing your local park, or a 3m tall shot-put sinking into the pavement outside your closest Tube station, don’t worry, these aren’t Olympic-related hallucinations.

Part of “Gifts of the Olympic Gods”, these 12 sculptures – including javelins, shot-puts, and bows and arrows – have been installed around the city, evoking the Greek gods in whose honour the original Olympic Games were held. And up-close, the impressive sculptures really do look like they have been dropped from a great height! Unsuspecting pedestrians beware.